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With the iPhone 3G's lackluster battery performance, a car charger is no longer an optional accessory -- it's a requirement. There are two basic types. There are those that go into the lighter socket and are composed of basically a wire with a plug on either end. Then there's the Kensington Car Charger Deluxe for iPhone and iPod.
The Kensington charger is both a battery charger and a dock that cradles your iPhone or iPod, holding it in position in your vehicle for easy access. It also plugs into a standard power socket, but it features a flexible goose neck that lets you position the iPhone horizontally or vertically, and it provides easy access to the headphone port for plugging your iPhone into your auto's stereo system. (For line-in audio through your car speakers, you need to have a stereo with an auxiliary input or have an aftermarket technician install one for you. Kensington's charger does, however, include a nice auxiliary-in cable.)
No Messy Wires
At US$49.99, the Kensington Car Charger Deluxe is a compelling solution because it's both a dock that will hold up an iPhone and charge it at the same time. There's no need to set the iPhone on the dash, the console or on the seat.
A separate iPhone car mount with a separate cord charger would work -- and would ultimately cost about the same -- but the multiple units take more time to get right. You've got to find a way to mount a dock on your dash or console, trust a suction cup, take up a cup holder space, or use a vent-mounting cradle. These can be compelling options, but they don't easily move from one vehicle to another. The Car Charger Deluxe basically lets you just seat the iPhone, start the car and get moving.
For the record, there are some other similar options on the market, including an enhanced version from Kensington that also has a direct auxiliary audio port connection and a remote control; it costs just shy of $100.
Griffin Technology's RoadTrip with SmartScan and Belkin's TuneBase for iPhone or iPod each offer wireless connectivity to vacant FM radio channels on your car's stereo and a light-weight power-port flexible mount, but they also cost nearly $100. In my experience, finding clear FM stereo channels to use is notoriously painful anyway, with sketchy output -- though I haven't tested those two products.
Build Quality
The build quality of the Kensington charger is solid and the design is basic -- nothing to gush over, yet it won't shame your iPhone 3G, either. Speaking of which, the charger works with the iPhone 3G even though this charger was first available prior to the iPhone 3G launch -- not all peripheral manufacturers have updated their product information to specifically address whether they're compatible with iPhone 3G in addition to the original iPhone and iPods.
The base of the unit has a 30-pin dock connector, a rubberized back and two adjustable side arms that cradle and lock the iPhone into place. The iPhone can be locked in and won't slip out, even if you're prone to braking hard when squirrels run out in the road.
In addition, Kensington added an ingenious flexibility to the arms and pin connector base -- all three can move independently. For example, as you're trying to get in the car and go, you're not paying particularly close attention to the charger and iPhone -- you just want to mate the dock connectors and lock it in without any hassle or fumbling. The dock connector can slide back and forth, which makes it easy to line everything up and connect. But once you're connected, what if you're off center? Won't one of the arms not tighten the correct distance to the edge of the iPhone? Not a problem -- because both arms ratchet independently, it doesn't require equal pressure or equal movements of distance to seat and lock the iPhone.
It's a surprisingly handy feature that Kensington doesn't mention online or in the instructions.
Finding the Right Angle
The flexible goose neck seemed a little short at first -- I had a hard time finding a good position in front of my dash that didn't obstruct key controls like the air conditioner knob. Then I realized the unit didn't have to be placed vertically -- it can be hung horizontally as well. The point is, the odds are good that you'll be able to find an acceptable angle in most any car.
One last feature that's worth noting is that the dock pin connector will fit the iPhone even if it has a case on it -- maybe not all cases, but it worked well enough with my Marware Sport Grip for iPhone 3G silicone case. Someone at Kensington should get a raise for this feature, by the way -- why do so many accessory manufacturers forget that customers like cases?
Ultimately Great -- With Caveats
The Kensington Car Charger Deluxe does exactly what it says it does -- charges your iPhone or iPod and provides a flexible yet secure dock at the same time. This is fantastic, but the system does come with some caveats for personal use. If you're the kind of person who wants to be able to answer the phone while driving or in the car, you're left with three choices: answer and use the speakerphone, remove the iPhone and take the call (which isn't exactly legal in all states these days), or use a Bluetooth headset. You could use Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) headphones, too, but what if you've got your stereo connected?
There is the argument that it's safer to ignore phone calls while driving in the first place, but even if you pull over, the all-in-one design makes access a little more cumbersome than picking up an iPhone that's being charged with a cable-type charger.
Still, the all-in-one design is what sets the Kensington Car Charger Deluxe apart from all the other corded chargers -- you get the dock and the charger, and it all just plugs right in.
